Written Answers Wednesday 28 July 2010

Scottish Executive

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what selection processes were used to identify and invite members of the excellence groups

Michael Russell: Members were identified through consultation and, on the basis of recommendations from, a variety of sources. These included individuals with a particular knowledge and understanding of their area of expertise within the Scottish context and our partners Learning and Teaching Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Scottish Catholic Education Service.

  In some instances, existing groups augmented as necessary have been asked to take forward the excellence work.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of each of the excellence groups is made up of classroom teachers, broken down by subject, and how many teachers have accepted invitations to become members of these groups

Michael Russell: A list of the current membership of all of the excellence groups will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51354).

  The list includes the number of teachers who are confirmed as members on each group.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who, apart from celebrities, are in the excellence groups and when they were approached

Michael Russell: A list of the current membership of all the excellence groups will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51354).

  Members were approached during May and June 2010.

Energy

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the appropriate siting of waste-to-energy plants.

Richard Lochhead: Paragraphs 168 and 169 of the second National Planning Framework provide guidance on the relationships between waste, heat and other forms of energy and considerations relevant to the siting of waste installations. Paragraph 219 of Scottish Planning Policy: the Scottish Government’s policy on nationally important land use matters provides locational guidance for thermal treatment plants with a reference to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Thermal Treatment of Waste Guidelines 2009. A further reference to sites identified for energy from waste facilities and heat and power use is given in Annex B of the Zero Waste Plan. Additional guidance is provided in Planning Advice Note 63 which is being updated during 2010.

Environment

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what anti-litter campaigns it has funded in each of the last five years

Richard Lochhead: For each of the last five years Scottish Government has provided funding to Keep Scotland Beautiful anti-litter campaign team Keep Scotland Tidy, now funded as part of the zero waste Scotland programme. During this time Keep Scotland Tidy ran a number of anti-litter campaigns designed to raise public awareness of the problem, with the most high profile being the annual National Spring Clean campaign.

Environment

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided for the National Spring Clean 2010 campaign

Richard Lochhead: The National Spring Clean 2010 campaign was run by Keep Scotland Tidy. In 2009-10 the Scottish Government provided Keep Scotland Tidy’s funding of £553,000.

  The provision of a National Spring Clean campaign in 2010 was one of the main objectives/expected outcomes of this funding award.

Environment

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce litter across Scotland

Richard Lochhead: Scotland’s zero waste plan, launched in June 2010, sets the strategic direction for waste policy for Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland is the Scottish Government’s delivery programme for zero waste. It provides a range of support, campaigns and other interventions to help people and organisations on the journey to zero waste.

  The Scottish Government provides funding to the zero waste Scotland litter and flytipping programme which supports local authorities and other stake holders in their role tackling litter in public places.

  The Scottish Government is keen to see the number of recycling on the go facilities in public places increase substantially across Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland has been commissioned to produce guidance on recycling on the go, which can turn the problem of litter into a resource for Scotland.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis it will authorise seismic surveys in Scottish territorial waters

Richard Lochhead: This is a matter reserved to Westminster under The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 (as amended), which provide for the issuing of consents for geological surveys, including seismic surveys, for oil and gas related activities. Any consents in relation to seismic surveys whether in inshore or offshore waters are issued by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of the total production of farmed Atlantic salmon in the United Kingdom has been sold under the EU protected geographical indication regulations for Scottish Farmed Salmon in each year since 2004

Richard Lochhead: We do not hold information on the amounts of farmed salmon sold as Scottish Farmed Salmon by the industry.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33328 by Richard Lochhead on 5 May 2010 and given that the Scottish Government confirms the validity of the 2008 protected geographical indication (PGI) amendment as published in the European Union Official Journal , specifying the stages of production of fresh fish that must take place in Scotland, for what reason it is suggested that the current specification of the PGI does not state which stages of the production process for Scottish farmed salmon must take place within the geographical area

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34479 on 28 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is investigating the potential for a derogation to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground and, if so, when the results of that investigation will be announced

Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers have already allowed a derogation for the burial of fallen stock in a designated remote area. However, burial should not be regarded as the first option on remote areas, rather it should be the very last option considered for disposal purposes. In Scotland, the designated remote areas cover the majority of the Highlands and Islands and Argyllshire.

  The Scottish Government will soon be consulting on consolidation the Animal by-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and will be seeking views on a number of derogations including one that would allow burial/burning of fallen stock where access is impractical or there is health and safety risks of collection.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground

Richard Lochhead: Fallen stock in the designated remote areas is currently allowed to be buried. In Scotland, the designated remote areas cover the majority of the Highlands and Islands and Argyllshire.

  However, burial should not be regarded as the first option in remote areas, rather it should be the very last option considered for disposal purposes.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that fallen stock should not be allowed to be buried on hill ground and what the reasons are for its position on this matter

Richard Lochhead: The requirements for correct disposal of fallen stock exist to protect human and animal health and to protect the environment.

  Scientific evidence shows that the degradation process essential to ensure reduction of BSE/TSE infectivity cannot be guaranteed by burial. Even after burial scrapie infected material can persist in the soil for years and present a source of infection. Therefore it is essential that fallen stock is disposed in the correct way.

Livestock

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome) were reported in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010, broken down by Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Service area.

Richard Lochhead: In 2009 SAC confirmed 48 cases of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (bleeding calf syndrome) on 35 farms in Scotland. For 2010, on 4 June, 72 cases had confirmed from 61 farms (six dairy farms and 55 beef suckler farms). Submissions have been received by all of Scotland’s eight Disease Surveillance Centres, though we do not have figures for each centre. Four of the beef farms involved had cases diagnosed in their calves in 2009.

Livestock

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research the Scottish Agricultural College is undertaking to identify the potential factors that cause bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome).

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is aware that Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is participating in a GB-wide case-control study. SAC may be involved in other research not known to the Scottish Government; more information may be available by contacting the Scottish Agricultural College directly. Research work is also being undertaken in Scotland by Moredun Research Institute, and notably elsewhere by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Pfizer.

Marine (Scotland) Bill

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish guidance on disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment committed to do on 2 December 2009 during Stage 2 consideration of the Marine (Scotland) Bill ( Official Report c. 2244).

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult stakeholders on the guidance relating to disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment committed to do on 2 December 2009 during Stage 2 consideration of the Marine (Scotland) Bill ( Official Report c. 2244), and whether this will be a full public consultation.

Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland is currently developing statutory guidance for Scottish inshore waters, in line with Scottish regulations. Marine Scotland will consult key marine stakeholders on this guidance and publish it in autumn 2010.

  The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have produced statutory guidance on the disturbance of marine European protected species for UK offshore areas, including offshore waters adjacent to Scotland.

Procurement

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the development of a single supplier database for the construction industry.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with representatives of the construction industry on the development of a single supplier database for the construction industry.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage buyers to use the new single supplier database for the construction industry.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the new single supplier database for the construction industry will differ from any existing prequalification system for the construction industry.

John Swinney: A cross-sector working group, including supplier representation from the construction sector, has been established to review existing approaches to supplier pre-qualification and to develop a standard pre-qualification questionnaire (SPQQ) for use by the public sector in Scotland in all types of procurement (goods, works and services). A competition has also been launched to identify potential providers of the data base and associated services.

  The development of the database, and its launch, will be accompanied by a significant series of communications and training events designed to encourage its use within both the buyer and supplier communities.

  A key aim of the SPQQ database project is to encourage the public sector buyer community in Scotland to use a common system and standardised questions when contracting for goods, services and works (including construction projects), and offer suppliers the ability to store their answers to the standard questions online, reducing the current requirement to repeatedly submit their prequalification details.

  We expect the database to be launched by the end of 2010.

Procurement

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it can provide of its use of article 19 of the EU directive on public procurement to obtain contracts for sheltered workplaces.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not currently hold any contracts awarded following the use of Article 19 of the EU Procurement Directives. The Scottish Government is actively exploring how Article 19 may be used at the fit-out stage in the construction of the Scottish Crime Campus.

  The Public Contracts Scotland contract advertising portal is being developed to send issue alerts to purchasers when they select a category of goods or services that could be supplied by a support business. A brochure will also be issued to public authorities, which profiles all supported businesses in Scotland and highlights the range of goods and services available.

  The Scottish Government is also working at a number of levels to increase access to public contracts for supported business, such as by providing access to guidance, training and skills through the Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan.

Rural Affairs

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reintroduce natural regeneration of margins in fields next to woods and water as an eligible part of land management options.

Richard Lochhead: There are no plans to introduce natural regeneration as part of the small-scale woodland creation measure under land managers options. Support for natural regeneration is available through the Rural Priorities funding mechanism.

Rural Affairs

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering encouraging smaller tree plantings on farmland as opposed to larger tree plantings that may compete with other farming interests.

Richard Lochhead: Smaller tree planting is already supported through the small scale woodland creation measure available under the Land Managers Options and also the native woodland and mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland models under the Rural Priorities mechanism of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

  Using the land managers options, landowners can plant new woods with native species from 0.1 - 1.0 hectare in size and using the Rural Priorities, landowners can create new native woodlands or mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland of 0.25 hectares or greater.

Rural Affairs

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the results of the Monitor Farms programme.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent review of the Scottish Monitor Farm programme in 2008. ADAS, who carried out the review, reported that, overall, the programme was effective in bringing about physical and financial improvements on the farms involved and on farms not actively engaged in the programme. They concluded that, at a conservative estimate, for every £1 of public funding invested in the programme, the farming economy benefited by £6.50. The full report, "An Investigation into the Role and Effectiveness of Scottish Monitor Farms", can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/10/29093936/0.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to review regulations on the spreading of sewage sludge

Richard Lochhead: Officials are currently considering with their counterparts in Whitehall and the other devolved administrations whether changes may be required to strengthen the provisions of the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 or to ensure stakeholder confidence in the continued application of the UK-wide code of practice for agricultural use of sewage sludge.

Waste Management

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects its review of sewage sludge regulations to be completed

Richard Lochhead: Officials are currently discussing the scope and timing of a review of these regulations, which have UK-wide application, with their counterparts in Whitehall and the other devolved administrations. It is expected that consultation on any proposed changes would take place before the end of the current calendar year.